a simple real food recipe :: traditional wassail

I’m hoping by posting this early enough that you will be able to put this on the menu a couple times this holiday season!Traditionally, wassail was made in England after the apple harvests were done. It was a way to commemorate their apple trees in hopes of a good harvest the following year.

I have made it tradition to simmer a pot of wassail on the longest night of the year – the Winter Solstice, and enjoy it with my husband. Historically, (and I’m convinced genetically), I live for soaking in the sun, the beach down the road, and sand in my toes. So this gives me something to look forward to in this frozen tundra that is Michigan during the winter 🙂Last year I gave my oldest a few sips of the cider before she went to bed that night (sans alcohol of course). I decided this year to make it a fun tradition we could do all together! The girls took a warm bath, got into snuggly PJ’s and blankets, and we watched a movie with warm wassail for our tummys! I had planned on doing this on the winter solstice (December 21), but I really wanted to get this post up for you guys before that so you could enjoy it too!We ended up making some on December 1^st . It was so fun and the girls had a ball! We will, of course be doing the same thing when that longest night of the year comes around, but I think this was a fun way to welcome in the Christmas season for us!

Since this completely fills your home with the delicious scent of mulled cider, it is a fantastic drink to have on the stove at any gathering or party! It is easily kept in a warm crockpot with a ladle to serve, and your guests will feel so welcomed and warm with the smells and taste!

You’ll need:

7 ½ cups organic apple cider

2 cups organic cranberry juice

10 whole cloves

10 allspice berries

2 cinnamon sticks

1 organic orange, sliced into rounds leaving the rind ON (if organic is unavailable by just use a conventional one BUT you will want to peel it due to pesticides)

*Optional: organic honey to sweeten if too tart for you. I usually don’t.

*Optional: ½ cup rum or brandy in the pot, OR splashes of rum or brandy in each mug if you don’t want the whole pot spiked. Since I served this to my girls too I just add rum to the mug that my husband and I drink from 😉 Traditionally you may also prefer a dark ale/sherry combo in the wassail. If you opt for the ale/wine combo go for a 3:1 ratio ale to sherry.

1. Tie up the cloves, allspice, and cinnamon sticks in a cheesecloth or small piece of tea towel using kitchen twine.
2. Put everything into a large soup or stock pot and bring to a low simmer.
3. Lower the heat and very low simmer the mixture for 2 hours before serving. Keep it on low or use a crockpot on low if serving over hours.

Kitchen Tips:

1. This recipe made enough for my girls to have a half mug full – you can see their mug size in the picture, and for my husband and I to each have 2 mugs full 😉 Double up if you are going to serve a crowd. You can simmer it in a large stock pot at first and transfer to a crockpot to keep warm.
2. You could do the entire recipe in the crockpot. You will want to cook it on low over a good 8 hour period of time. Don’t go on high – you don’t want it to boil.
3. I use a cut up tea towel for the spices.  I hate wasting cheesecloth – a towel is washable and it comes out perfectly clean.
4. Apples are in the “dirty dozen” list of highly pesticided produce so I highly recommend organic cider.
5. Looking for another great holiday drink for your family or guests? Try my eggnog – it is SO good!

YOUR TURN!

Do you love the winter?? What do you do to celebrate the winter and look forward to warmer weather?? Let me know how you like the wassail if you try it!

This post was shared at Real Food Freaks Freaky Friday, and The Polivka Family’s Family Table Tuesday, and Real Food Forager’s Fat Tuesday!